A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mandeville vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mandeville or El Chalten?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Mandeville or El Chalten? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mandeville or El Chalten?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

El Chalten

El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and El Chalten, we can see that Mandeville is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and El Chalten is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Mandeville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mandeville than you might in El Chalten.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandeville Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Mandeville or El Chalten?

El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Mandeville experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or El Chalten in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as El Chalten. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as El Chaltenin January. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 29°C (83°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Mandeville usually gets less rain in July than El Chaltenin January. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or El Chalten in the Autumn?

Both El Chalten and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year.

Mandeville is a little warmer than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in April.

It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. It's quite rainy in Mandeville. In October, Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of rain as El Chaltenin April. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mandeville or El Chalten in the Winter?

Both El Chalten and Mandeville during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the winter, Mandeville is much warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mandeville in January average around 26°C (79°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F)in July.

Mandeville usually gets more rain in January than El Chaltenin July. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or El Chalten in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round.

In April, Mandeville is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin October. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (80°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in El Chalten this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Mandeville usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin October. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for El Chalten and Mandeville